Leslie Close Powell, 50, daughter of Dr. James M. Close and Linda Piland Close, and wife of William E. Powell, was born in San Francisco on Aug. 18, 1959 and died in her sleep, at her home in Fairfax Station on May 2.
According to her family, Powell was a smart, vivacious, fun-loving, multi-talented, practical and caring dynamo that did not have a pretentious bone in her body and who deeply touched the hearts and lives of everyone she met.
During her early childhood when her father was serving in the U.S. Army, Powell lived in California and Germany. When she was school age, Powell’s family moved to Fairfax, where she later graduated from Woodson High School. She was graduated from St. Mary’s College in Raleigh, N.C. and then the University of Richmond in 1981. Right out of college she started working as a waitress at Sir Walter Raleigh Inn for her soon-to-be husband. She later attended travel school and moved to Tampa, Fla. where she first began her 25-year career as a travel agent. On Sept. 24, 1983, she married William E. Powell and together they raised two children, Jennifer Linda and Alexander McClay. She never missed one of her children’s sporting events or special activities. She did not live to see Jennifer graduate from High Point University on May 8 or Alex graduate from South County Secondary School on June 18.
Powell’s family described her as a Renaissance woman filled with joie de vivre that loved sailing, water-skiing, traveling, carpentry, decorating, painting, organizing, reading and mentoring. In the past few years, Powell enjoyed working at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Spending time with her family and forming lasting friendships were her greatest joys, according to her family. She enjoyed a good party and loved dancing with her husband. She loved nothing more than to teach guests at the family cottage on the Northern Neck how to sail, water ski, pick crabs or simply relax and feel the joy.
Powell was preceded in death by her mother. She is survived by her husband Bill, her children Jennifer and Alex, her father, Dr. James M. Close and his wife Alice, her brother Stuart Close and his daughter Stella, her siblings and their families, Randy, Nicole, Cooper and Sophie Harding, Peter Harding and Susan and Chris Saunders.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 124 Park St. S.E., Vienna, VA 22180 in memory of Leslie’s mother, Linda P. Close.